Wheel-cultivator.



Patented Feb. 5, I901. F. BATEMAN.

WHEEL CULTIVATDR.

(Application'flled Nov; 18, 1899.

4 Sheets-Sheet I.

(No Model.)

cams PETERS cov, mmoumm WASH Patented Feb. 5, l90l.

F. BATEMAN.

WHEEL CULTIVATOR.

(Applicatiqn filed Nov. 18, 1899.;

4 $haats$heet 2.

(No Model.)

XWMTZ M 'YriE NORRIS Pzrzns co. moroLi-ma. wAsnmGrom n. c.

N0. 667,6. Patented Feb. 5, I90. F. BATEMAN.

WHEEL CULTIVATOR.

(Application filed Nov. 18, 1899.)

4 Sheets-Sheet 3.

(No Model.)

THE Nouns PETERS co, FNOT-LITHO., wnsumorcu. a. c.

N0. 667,6". Patented Feb. 5, I90l. F. BATEMAN.

WHEEL GULTIVATOR.

(Application filed Nov. 18, 1899.| (N0 MOdBI.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

ms zrzns co, PHOYO-LITHD., WASnINGTON. nv c.

lUNTTEn STATES PATENT @FFICE'.

FRANK BATEMAN, OF GRENLOCH, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO THE BATEMANMANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

WHEEL-CULTIVATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 667,611, dated February5, 1961;

Application filed November 18, 1899. Serial No. 737,468. (No model.) I

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FRANK BATEMAN, a citi-- zen of the United States,and a resident of Grenloch, New Jersey, have invented certainImprovements in W heel-Culti vators,of which the following is aspecification.

One object of my invention is to so construct a wheel-cultivator thatthe same may be readily used either as a pivot-wheel or fixed-wheelmachine, a further object being to provide for the bodily lateralmovement of the gangs of cultivating-blades in place of the swingingmovement ordinarily imparted to them in order to cause them to clearmisplaced plants or hills, and a still further object being to providefor a swinging adjustment of the gangs of blades independently of thisbodily lateral movement.

The invention also comprises certain minor details of constructionintended to simplify the machine and render it efficient in action. Inthe accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of the machinefrom which one of the supporting-wheels has been re- 2 5 moved, certainof the forward portions of the structure being also broken away. Fig. 2is a sectional plan view of part of Fig. 1, also with the wheel removed.Fig. 3 is a rear view of part of the mechanism, partly in section, onthe line a a, Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a similar rear view showing both sidesof the machine,

but omitting the seat-supporting devices and a number of parts in thedistance in order to avoid confusion; and Fig. 5is a view similar toFig. 2, but showing the wheel applied to the axle and the partsoccupying a difierent relation to each other from that represented insaid Fig. 2.

Each of the supporting-wheels 1 of the ma- 4o chine is mounted so as tobe free to turn upon a short axle 2, which projects laterally from anelbow-casting 3, the latter having an upwardly-projecting stem orspindle 4, which is adapted to upper and lower bearings 5 and 6, 5 theupper bearing depending from the sleeve 7, which is secured to atransverse bar 8 of the frame, the vertical spindles 4 and transversebar 8 thus constituting an arch structure supported by the Wheels andadapted to carry a number of operative parts of the machine. The axle 2,elbow 3, and spindle 4 may form an integral structure, or the parts maybe independent of each other and secured together in any appropriateway.

The lower bearing 6 for each of the spin- 55 dles 4 is carried by an arm9, secured to and depending from a bracket on the corresponding upperbearing and sleeve, as shown in Fig. 4.

Each of the sleeves 7 and the parts carried thereby is laterallyadjustable on the transverse bar 8, being secured in position afteradjustment by means of an eyebolt 11 and nut 12, so that the width orgage of the machine may be readily changed, as desired, by moving thewheels from and toward each other.

The upper end of each of the vertical spindles 4 has its bearing againsta ball 10, located at the top of the depending bearing 5, so that saidspindle is free to turn in its bearings when a pivot-wheel cultivator isdesired. Means are provided, however-,for locking each of the verticalspindles 4 to the fixed frame when a fixed-wheel cultivator is desired,the means employed in the present instance for accomplishing this resultbeing a clutch sleeve 13, mounted on the spindle 4, so as to be capableof sliding vertically thereon, but prevented from turning independentlyof the spindle by means of a pin 14, projecting from said spindle andadapted to a slot 15 in the sleeve, a set-screw 16 serving to secure thesleeve to the spindle in any position of vertical adjustment thereon.

When it is desired to lock the spindle to the fixed frame, theclutch-sleeve is raised, so as to cause lugs 17 thereon to enter notches18, formed in the lower portion of the bearing 5, and as the latterconstitutes a portion of the fixed frame of the machine the spindle 4 isthus prevented from turning, and the axle which carries the wheel iscaused to retain a fixed relation to the frame. When, however,

a pivot-wheel cultivator is desired, each of 5 the clutch-slee ves 13 islowered on its spindle 4, so as to withdraw the lugs 17 from engagementwith the notches l8 and bring other lugs 19 on the sleeve intoengagement with notches 20, formed in the upper portion of a swing- 10osleeve 21, which is free to turn on or with the spindle 4, and carries alaterally-projecting bar 22, constituting a rest for one of the feet ofthe driver of the machine. Each swingsleeve 21 has a projecting angularbracket 23, to which is secured the upper projecting portion 24 of anangle-brace which is connected by means of coupled rods 25 to a similaranglebrace at the opposite side of the machine. Hence both swing-sleeves21 are connected so as to be caused to move in unison with correspondingmovement of the wheels 1, and in consequence of this connection forwardpressure upon the right-hand foot-rest 22 will cause both wheels to beswung to the right,while forward pressure upon the left-hand foot-rest22 will cause both Wheels to be swung to the left, the vertical spindles4 serving as the aXes of swing in either case. The angle-braces havecentral portions 26, which carry set-screws 27, whereby the stems 28 ofthe foot-rests are secured to socket 29 on the swing-sleeve 2l,'and eachsocket 29 has a projecting angle-bracket 30, to which is secured thelower projecting portion 31 of the angle-brace. The socket 29 andangle-brackets 23 and 30 may be formed integral with the sleeve 21 ormay be separate therefrom and appropriately secured thereto.

The forward end portion 31 of each anglebrace carries a bent rod 32, theinner end of which can be adapted to any one of a series of openings ina transverse bar 33, mounted upon a pair of beams 34 and 35, whichconstitute the forward member of the gang structure of the cultivator,the forward endsof these beams carrying a sleeve 36, which is free toslide laterally upon the horizontallyprojecting lower end 37 of an archor yoke 38, the upper portion of the latter being secured to the mainlongitudinal beams 39 of the fixed frame by means of U-bolts 40 and nuts41. Each of the depending lower ends of the yoke is braced by means of abar 42, extending forwardly to the fixed frame and the outer end of eachhorizontally-extending portion 37 of the yoke is braced by aforwardly-extending rod 43, so that said horizontal portions 37 of theyoke are practically a rigid part of the frame. The beam 35 projectsforwardly and carries a link 44, which is connected to one of theelements of the draft mechanism. The rear ends of the beams 34 and 35carry a block 46, which has a hinge pin or bolt 47, and to the latter ishung the forward end of the bar 48, which carries the cultivator-blades49, said blades being hung to said bar 48 by any ordinary form offastening, so that they may be caused to assume different angles inrespect to the lines of draft and different degrees of pitch. The bar 48is of duplex construction, the forward end of one bar being hung to thepivot-bolt 47 and the forward end of the other bar being bent so as toform a Segment 50, which overlaps and moves in contact with a segment51, formed at the rear end of the beam 35, the latter having a bent bar52 for attachment to the block 46. The

segment 51 carries bolts 53, which are adapted to slots 54 in thesegment and are provided with nuts 55, so that the rear member of thegang structure can be adjusted to different angles in respect to theforward member and can be secured in position after such adjustment. Theblock 46 also has an opening for the passage of a gang-lifting bar 56,which depends from the usual crank-lever 57, and has at its lower end aseries of openings 58, to any one of which maybe adapted a pin 59,whereby the gang structure can be supported at anydesired height fromthe lever 57, a coiled spring being interposed between the block 47 andflanged bearing-plates 61 on the bar 56, so to tend normally to depressthe gang structure, but permit it to rise when it meets with anyobstruction, the block 46 in this case sliding on the bar 56 and thespring 60 being compressed accordingly.

The flanged bearing-plates 61 each have a series of openings 62 for thereception of the bolt 63, whereby they are secured to the bar 56,whereby these bearing-plates can be adjusted to correspond with anyreadjustment of the supporting'pin 59, thus permitting of a change inheight of the gang structure without any change in the normal tension ofthe spring 60, or they may be adjusted independently of the pin 59 inorder to vary the tension of the spring, as desired.

The gang-lifting levers 57 are hung directly upon the transverse bar orrod 8 of the arch structure of the machine, thus simplifying theconstruction of this portion of the machine and rendering unnecessaryany special pivotal supports for the levers.

It will be observed that owing to the connection between theangle-braces 31 and the forward members of the gang structure both gangsof blades will be shifted. to right or left simultaneously, and suchmovement will be coincident with the swinging of the wheels to right orleft, so as to clear misplaced plants or hills, and the same movement ofthe gangs of blades will take place when the wheels are fixed orincapable of swinging, the sleeves 21 being free to swing in eithercase.

Joint swinging of the wheels and gangs of blades has before been adoptedin numerous machines; but the gangs have usually been pivoted at theirforward ends and swung from such pivotal points, whereas in theconstruction which I have adopted there is a bodily lateral movement ofeach gang structure, so that each of the blades from the front to therear end of the series is moved laterally to the same extent and withoutany change in its angle in respect to the line of draft, thus insuringuniform action of the cultivatorblades irrespective of the lateralshifting movement imparted to them.

Instead of employingaslide at the forward end of the gangbeams 34 and 35the same may, it will be evident, be hung by means of links, so as to bepermitted to move laterally under the action of the swinging anglebraces31.

By pivoting the rear member of the gang structure, which carries theblades, to the forward member change in the angle of the rear member canbe effected without deranging or requiring change in adjustment of theparts cooperating with the beams 34 and 35, thus simplifying theoperation.

Having thus described my invention, I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent 1. The combination in a wheel-cultivator, of wheelshaving axles with pivot-spindles, wheel-swinging sleeves on saidspindles'and means whereby the spindles may be locked either to thefixed frame or to said wheelswinging sleeves.

2. The combination in a wheel-cultivator, of wheels having axles withvertical spindles, hearings on the fixed frame for said spindles, wbeelswinging sleeves mounted on the spindles, and a sliding clutch-sleevemovable on each spindle between its bearing and the swing-sleeve andadapted to engage with one of said parts when in one extreme positionand with the other part when in the other extreme position.

3. A Wheelcultivator having pivot-wheels, a gang structure mounted so asto be moved bodily in a lateral direction without change of angle inrespect to the line of draft, and connections between said gangstructure and the wheel-swinging mechanism.

4. The combination in a wheel-cultivator, of a wheel-axle havingapivot-spindle, means for rocking the same so as to swing the wheel, agang structure carrying the cultivatorblades, an arm projecting fromsaid pivotspindle of the wheel-axle, and a rod serving to connect saidarm to the gang structure, said rod havinga number of points ofconnection with the gang structure, whereby the latter may be adjustedto different positions in respect to the wheel, and maintained in suchadjusted positions, substantially as specified.

5. The combination in a wheel-cultivator, of a wheel having an axle withpivot-spindle,

means for rocking said spindle so as to swing the wheel, a gangstructure having a forward member composed of separated beams, aperforated bar carried by said beams, and a connection between said barand the wheel-swinging mechanism.

6. A wheel-cultivator having a gang structure consisting of a forwardmember mounted so as to be movable laterally in respect to the frame ofthe machine, and a rear mem' ber pivoted to said forward member andcapable of swinging laterally in respect thereto.

7. A wheel-cultivator having a gang structure consisting of'a forwardmember mount-- ed so as to be movable laterally in respect to the frameof the machine, and a' rear mem ber pivoted to said forward member so asto swing laterally in respect thereto, overlapping segments on said.forward and rear members, and means for securing said segments togetherin different positions of adjustment.

8. The combination in a wheel-cultivator, of a gang structure comprisingindependent forward and rear members, a gang-supporting bar, and a blocksecured to the forward member of the gang structure and carrying apivot-bolt for the rear member, said block having an opening for thereception and passage of the gang-supporting bar.

9. The combination in a wheel-cultivator,

FRANK BATEMAN.

Witnesses:

FRANK E. BECHTOLD, J os. H. KLEIN.

